Grafham Water SC

1^st - 2^nd April

‘’April showers and ‘blowing old boots’ set the scene for the Grafham Flying Fifteen Open on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 April 2006. The wind forecast may have discouraged some entries, the competition comprising a lower-than-average entry of 26 boats. There were only five Classic boats so the separate start advertised in the Notice of Race was forsaken. Sharing their course with the Fireball Open meeting, the Fifteens had the advantage of observing their first beat with 5 minutes between starts.

A general recall on Race 1 brought the black flag into operation for the remainder of the weekend. Race Officer Tony Akers set old Olympic courses at the west end of the reservoir with south-westerly to westerly winds on both days. Saturday was bright, sunny and breezy and most completed the three short, back-to-back races. The wind strengthened on the Sunday, averaging force 5 and gusting 7/8. Many broaches and even the rare sight of Fifteens turned turtle led the RO to sensibly cancel Race 6 for safety reasons. Despite the mayhem, the races provided thoroughly exhilarating planing runs along the surf through the finishing line and there were very few breakages.

Alan Bax and Paul Busby (Hayling Island) performed consistently to win overall but they were never far from the threat of Jeremy Davy and Simon Childs (GWSC) who led and won the last three races. Neil Platt and Tim Harper (Bolton and WKSC) were placed third overall. In Race 2, Jeremy Davy and Simon Childs failed to notice that the race length was only 3 laps not 4 (as in Race 1) and sailed an extra lap, taking some of the fleet with them. The observant Alan Bax went through the line to claim the race win. Gill Browning and Simon Hunt (Hayling Island) had also noticed the change and finished second. This error by Jeremy Davy and trailing boat (Andy Palmer and Steve Carson) was a deciding factor in who won the event overall. In a style of their own, Andy Palmer and Steve Carson crossed the finishing line upside down (and got a hoot) in Race 2 having performed a magnificent broach in front of the committee boat. With spectacles like this, who could say that ‘pond sailing’ is boring?

Report from Pip Noon

Dovestone Sailing Club

22^nd - 23^rd April

The Flying Fifteen Open Meeting on 22^nd/23^rd April benefited from brighter and warmer weather than forecast with temperatures upto 17 degrees. The good sailing breeze of Saturday was unfortunately replaced by light and fickle winds on Sunday.

The event produced close racing with 3816 Nigel and Gavin Tullet from Royal Windermere, 3770 Neil Platt and Chris Massey from Bolton, 3835 Andy Goddard and Colin Pierce from Dovestone and the eventual winners 3805 David McKee and Chris Hewkin of Dovestone all taking turns at leading races.

Sunday’s racing always held out the hope of further advancement or a fall down the rankings in the testing conditions although as usual the same half dozen boats always managed to be near the front at the end.

The most notable performance was from Andy and Sally McKee sailing the 43 year old “Flame”. They managed a 2^nd and two 4^ths to record a 4^th overall position ahead of many boats 40 years younger. This proves that a well maintained and sailed Classic can compete with the new boats on restricted waters.

After the 4^th race David McKee/Chris Hewkin had secured the event however the other places were still up for grabs. Father and son Nigel and Gavin Tullet secured 2^nd overall by winning the last race and third went to Neil Platt and Chris Massey.

Results